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The Geological Society offers grades of membership for every stage of your career, from student to retirement. Find out about the benefits of membership, and how we can help you achieve and maintain Chartered status.

Information about the Geological Society’s internationally acclaimed books and journals for authors, editors, librarians and readers. Order publications, find out about the Lyell Collection and read guidelines for preparing a paper or submitting a book proposal.

Information and resources for teachers and students from
primary education onwards; for those making careers choices
after A-levels including undergraduate and further degrees
at university; and for those seeking professional
geosciences training or exploring lifelong learning
opportunities.

News and updates for the press, policy makers and members of the public interested in how the geosciences
interact with society. Find updates about policy related meetings, consultation responses, position statements and
press releases.

Geoscientist is the Fellowship magazine of the Geological Society: with news about science, people, the Society, features, reviews, opinion, letters and forthcoming events. All this, and more, can be found sooner here, in our online version.

The Geological Society of London is the UK national society for geoscience, providing support to over 11,500 members in the UK and overseas. Founded in 1807, we are the oldest geological society in the world.

Governance

How the Geological Society works

Structure of the Society

The Society is governed by a Council of 23 members, including the President, and four honorary secretaries. There are also up to three Vice Presidents. Council is chaired by the President, and meets five times each year, including one strategy meeting in September.

Presidents are elected for two years, and the President-designate serves for one year on Council before assuming office. Council members are elected for three years and are collectively the Society’s Trustees. All elections are overseen by an Elections Committee.

New Fellows are elected by the Fellowship at Ordinary General Meetings (OGMs) of the Society, when names submitted to Council are formally proposed.

On President's Day, the Society has its Annual General Meeting (AGM), when the Fellowship receives reports from Officers and the Annual Accounts for discussion and approval. Occasionally, for such matters as altering its Bye-laws, including changing the Fellowship dues, the Society may call a Special General Meeting (SGM). More detail about AGMs, OGMs and SGMs can be found in the Society's Bye-laws. All meetings are advertised in the Events section on this site.

The Society’s work is carried out by the staff based in Burlington House and at its Publishing House, under the direction of the Executive Secretary.

Annual Reviews

The Society publishes an Annual Review in April. This contains a summary of the activities of the past year, a brief overview of the Society’s finances and a list of Corporate Affiliates. The Report and Financial Statements, which include the report of the Society’s Auditors, are a separate document.

Society Signs AGI Professional Ethics & Disability Statements

Council agreed on 17 June that the Society should sign the American Geosciences Institute's professional ethical guidelines & statement on disability in the geosciences. Find out more and read the statements: